PLATTSBURGH — A five-run rally in the fifth inning of their second game helped make it a very successful first day of action for the Clinton County Mariners American Legion baseball team in Saturday’s Brian Mehan Memorial Tournament.

The Mariners opened their season with a 12-3 win over the Colchester Cannons A and then rallied for a 7-4 victory over Mohican Post #553 to go 2-0 on the day at Lefty Wilson Field and into the driver’s seat for the tournament championship.

“Absolutely, it went well for us,” said John Flynn, who picked up his first two victories as head coach of the Mariners.

Against the Cannons A, the Mariners fell behind, 3-0, in the top of the first inning on two hit batsmen and a three-run homer.

Clinton Country, however, answered back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning, took the lead with a run in the second and then broke it open with six runs in the third.

“It was a pretty good game for us,” Flynn said. “We fought right back after they scored three runs with three of our own.

“We took the lead in the second and then strung some hits together in the third.”

Matt Leta rapped out three hits and drove in a run for the Mariners, while Aaron Goldfarb added two hits and two RBI, and Brett Bosley, a double.

Nick Lamica started on the mound and picked up the pitching win, while Aaron Tenbuuren recorded the save.

The Mariners’ second game of the day was a good deal tougher as Mohican Post #553 held a 4-1 lead after four.

But, Clinton County struck for five runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Jordan Bezio singled, Leta got a pinch-hit walk, Pat Shaughnessy doubled in a run, Tory Bouyea tripled in two more and Frank Buksa rapped a two-run homer to put the Mariners ahead to stay.

“We had some very good at-bats in the inning, starting with Bezio, and Leta had a good at-bat in getting the walk,” Flynn said. “Two of our older players, Shaughnessy and Bouyea, came through and you have to give a lot of credit to Buksa, one of our younger players.”

Bouyea finished with a triple, double and single for the Mariners, while Shaughnessy added a solo home run in the first inning and a double. Will Flynn added a RBI single in the sixth.

Tenbuuren picked up the pitching victory in relief of Shaughnessy.

The tournament had to be changed from six teams to five as Granville and Utica were both involved in high school playoff action Saturday. The Colchester Cannons B was a team added to the event.

In other games Saturday, the Colchester Cannons A recorded an 11-1 win over the Colchester Cannons B; Mohican Post #553 with a 14-4 victory over Norfolk Post #925; and the Colchester Cannons B with a 12-5 decision over Norfolk Post #925.

Clinton County will play Norfolk Post #925 today at 9 a.m. and then the Colchester Cannons B at 2 p.m. — both at Lefty Wilson Field.

—

Mariners 12, Cannons A 3

Cannons A 300 000 0 — 3 2 4

Mariners 316 002 x — 12 10 2

Damgural and Cross. Lamica, Tenbuuren (5) and Bosley. WP- Lamica. LP- Damgural. Sv- Tenbuuren. 2B- Bosley (M). HR- Hunt (C).

—

Mariners 7, Mohican Post #553 4

Mohican Post 021 100 0 — 4 9 0

Mariners 100 051 x — 7 9 1

Green, Tyler (5) and LaChapelle. Shaughnessy, Tenbuuren (4) and Buksa. WP- Tenbuuren. LP- Green. 2B- Shaughnessy (M), Bouyea (M). 3B- Bouyea (M). HR- Shaughnessy (M), Buksa (M).

—

Today’s schedule

Lefty Wilson Field

9 a.m.- Norfolk Post #925 vs. Clinton County Mariners

11:30 a.m.- Mohican Post #553 vs. Colchester Cannons B

2 p.m.- Colchester Cannons B vs. Clinton County Mariners

South Acres Field

9 a.m.- Colchester Cannons A vs. Mohican Post #553

11:30 a.m.- Colchester Cannons A vs. Norfolk Post #925